Page 120 of Our Little Secret

“What!” Brooke said, stung to her core. “You’re still upset about that? Oh my freaking God, Leah! It’s been years.”

“And three marriages for me. How many do you think it would’ve been if I’d had the chance to marry the man I loved all those years ago?”

“You were too young—”

“But I knew what I wanted! Too bad for me! It’s the story of our childhood. If I wanted something, you took it!”

“This is crazy!”

A horn behind her blared.

“I have to go,” Brooke said.

Leah wasn’t finished and her eyes snapped fire. “Take my advice, Brooke. If you’re so damned miserable in your marriage, just get it over with and get out.”

“You’re being irrational.”

“Am I? I don’t think so.” All the repressed anger of fifteen years burst to the surface.

“And don’t worry about having to put up with me again. From now on I won’t bother you.”

“Don’t say—”

“I’m serious, Brooke. I’m done with you!”

“Even if you need money again?” Brooke threw back at her.

Leah gasped.

The guy behind her laid on the horn again.

“Wow,” Leah said. “Harsh. But I should have known. You know what, Brooke, you’re a heartless bitch!” She was nodding, agreeing with herself, as if she were alone under the canopy crawling with vehicles and travelers. “You always have been. Always will be. I’m over this. So don’t worry about it because I’m not your problem. Not anymore. And you should be happy because I promise you, you’ll never have to deal with me again. In fact, you’ll never see me again!” She slammed the door.

Brooke pounded the steering wheel. Damn it all! Why now? Why? And what the hell did she know? What did Neal know? The two of them had lied to her about the loan. Had they discussed Brooke’s affair? Neal’s fascination with another woman?

Tears of frustration burned in her eyes as she watched her sister head into the terminal. Did she believe she’d never see Leah again? No. But still, it was hard to accept that they couldn’t just move forward, have a normal relationship, whatever that meant.

Brooke put her SUV into gear and caught one last look at her sister.

Dragging her roller bag, Leah strode away, pushing her way through the crowd and never once looking back.

Don’t worry about ever having to put up with me again.

How many times had Leah threatened to stay completely out of Brooke’s life over the years? Every time the anger had simmered for months, sometimes years, but this time . . . Did she mean it?

I’m done with you!

You’ll never see me again!

Brooke watched Leah disappear into the throng as she swept through the glass doors. What the hell had set her off? Why did she have to bring it all up here? Now?

Pull it together, she told herself, viciously cranking the wheel as the attendant stepped back, whistle in mouth, making rolling gestures to the traffic in general. Brooke forced the Explorer into the thick traffic and threaded her way away from Sea-Tac.

She told herself she didn’t care what Leah threatened. It wasn’t the first time and she doubted it would be the last.

Trying to convince herself that she was better off without her needy, drama queen sister, she blinked back tears and ignored the scar over her heart that Leah always seemed to rip open.

She’ll be back, she told herself as she switched lanes and headed north.Like a bad penny, Nana used to say. Brooke told herself she had to forget about Leah at least for the moment, let her younger sister have her self-serving proclamation of independence.

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